East Lothian has led the way in developing a new Modern Apprenticeship in Regulatory Services, offering paths into the industry for young people while addressing recruitment challenges in the sector.
East Lothian Council’s Team Manager – Business Compliance (Trading Standards) Alex Connell is heavily involved in the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and is currently the Chair of Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS). As the professional body’s joint Lead Officer for Education and Training and a member of the Qualifications Board she was aware of modern apprenticeships on offer in England for those interested in entering the sector but there was no equivalent north of the border.
A new way into work
Research has shown that the industry in Scotland is small with only 240 people working in Trading Standards, including in administration and non-enforcement, and 60% of staff aged over 50. The only route into the sector involves completing professional qualifications through the TSI taking around four years while working within a local authority. Alex and her colleague Michelle McKenna at North Lanarkshire Council felt that modern apprenticeships offered another way into this area of work that would benefit the industry and young people seeking an alternative way into employment and began developing a scheme for Scotland.
“What we’re hoping for with this modern apprenticeship is that not only will we get new young people into profession, but it will give them a good head start as to what it is all about. They’ll receive education into the legal background and requirements that we have as well as a lot of on-the-job learning.”
Scottish Funding Council
While the authority pays the apprentice’s salary, the education element of the scheme is covered by the Scottish Funding Council. “The Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scottish Funding Council have been very supportive and we have Edinburgh College and Ayrshire College on board,” explains Alex. “I’ve also worked very closely with East Lothian Works. It’s taken a few years to launch but we now have nine modern apprentices across Scotland in our pilot year.”
One of the modern apprentices is Brennan Dugay who joined East Lothian Council in January.
Brennan had studied a foundation apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies while a pupil at Dunbar Grammar School so was familiar with the combination of learning and workplace. It was this experience that opened his eyes to the opportunities that an apprenticeship could offer.
Work... and get paid
“I probably wouldn't have actually thought about a modern apprenticeship if I didn't take the foundation apprenticeship,” explains Brennan. “I didn't want to continue in full-time education so the idea of it was so much more appealing. You can work and get paid while getting qualifications.”
Brennan has already been getting to grips with the many areas that regulatory standards is involved in: “Trading Standards covers a very broad spectrum of things like pricing and feed visits on animals. It's not the same every day: one day you're in a shop and the next you're on a farm.”
He is enjoying working alongside the team and learning from them but is also excited to start college, saying: “I'm looking forward to it and having more of an understanding on the legislation and reasons behind the work. It will be helpful.” He feels that his experiences with the Foundation Apprenticeship have also stood him in good stead for this next move in his career. “I'll have to build up a portfolio and I had to do that for the foundation apprenticeship too.” Visits to labs including Edinburgh University and SRUC also prepared him for entering a workplace: “When you don't know anyone but you need to go in and work with new people,” he explains.
"I'd recommend it"
Brennan’s modern apprenticeship will take two years to complete and he can already envisage a career in the regulatory standards industry at the end of it. “As well as a job I’d like to do more training as well as there are other aspects like weights and measures which I need to do more studying and learn about,” he said.
Although still early in his modern apprenticeship journey, Brennan’s pleased with the route he’s chosen, saying: “I could never see myself going to uni but having the chance to still be able to get more qualifications and earn, straight from school, it’s much better. I’d recommend it.”
Interested in finding out more about Foundation Apprenticeship opportunities in school? East Lothian Works is here to help.